How Much Freezer Space Do You Need for a Whole or Half Hog?
If you’ve ever thought about buying a whole or half hog but hesitated because you weren’t sure if you had the freezer space — you’re in the right place! This is one of the most common questions we get from first-time customers.
The good news? With a little planning, storing your pork can be simple, organized, and totally doable.
Here’s everything you need to know to get freezer-ready.
What You’ll Get: Pounds, Packages, and Cuts
Let’s break it down:
A whole hog typically has a hanging weight of about 200 lbs, which yields around 140–160 lbs of packaged meat.
A half hog (about 100 lbs hanging weight) yields 70–80 lbs of packaged meat.
This includes a delicious variety of cuts — like chops, ribs, roasts, ground pork, ham, and bacon — plus trim that can be used for sausage or lard. [Find out more: What Cuts Come with a Whole or Half Hog?] Some of the weight is bone and fat, but even those parts are useful (hello, homemade stock and rendered lard!).
The exact mix of cuts depends on your preferences — bone-in vs. boneless, pork steaks vs. roast, and so on — but we’ll walk you through that when it’s time to order.
What Size Freezer Do You Really Need?
Here’s the quick answer:
A half hog will fit comfortably in the freezer above your fridge if there’s not too many additional items frozen— no extra appliance needed.
A whole hog fits great in a small chest freezer (think 5–7 cu ft) or even in one of those pull-out freezer drawers if you’ve got one.
If you’re the visual type, check out this freezer restock video from our clients at Windsor Montessori:
How the Meat Is Packaged (And Why That Makes Life Easier)
When you place your processing order, your pork will come neatly wrapped in butcher paper or vacuum sealed plastic (your choice), which is stamped with what’s inside — like “Pork Chops” or “Sausage” — so you can find what you need without digging through a mountain of mystery meat.
This labeling makes it easy to:
Stack and organize your cuts
Keep track of what you’ve used
Avoid playing freezer Tetris every time you make dinner
How Long Will the Meat Last?
If kept frozen, your pork will last for many months — easily 6 months to a year or more, especially if wrapped well and kept at a consistent freezer temp.
Here’s a rough idea of how long it might last:
For a family that eats pork 3 times a week, a whole hog typically lasts about 6 months
A half hog might last that same family around 3 months
Tips to keep your meat fresh:
Keep it frozen until you’re ready to use it
Avoid thawing and refreezing
Label with dates if it helps you keep things rotated
Freezer Organization Tips for First-Timers
If this is your first rodeo, don’t stress — many of our customers are buying a chest freezer for the first time. Here’s what we recommend:
Take a little time to clear out space in your current freezer
Organize by cut type — group sausages together, stack chops, etc.
Use plastic bins, baskets, or dividers to keep everything tidy and easy to find
Bonus tip: you can even use color-coded bins or reusable grocery bags to sort different cuts of meat. Genius.
TL;DR: You’ve Got This!
Buying a whole or half hog isn’t just a smart way to stock up — it’s a way to bring high-quality, pasture-raised pork to your table all year long. And with a little freezer prep, it’s way easier than most people expect.
Ready to fill your freezer with real, flavorful pork you can feel good about?
Got questions? We’re always happy to help you figure out what size order (and freezer!) makes the most sense for your household. Get in touch!
